Jex's POV:

Standing over the small crib on wheels (which is placed next to Bella's hospital bed), I look down at our son Ace, who is wrapped in a white blanket.

Never in my life have I seen anything so perfect. He's tiny, with a full head of dark hair like mine. I know it's really too soon to say just yet, but he looks a lot like me, definitely more of me than Bella (at this stage anyway). But if he gets her personality we'll be onto a good thing. Because if he's anything like me, he'll be a hot head.

He's been in the world for an hour now and other than crying, when he took his first breath, he's been asleep ever since.

Sara arrived at the hospital at around 2 am. Apparently Andre saw the text message and woke her up to tell her about it, which surprises me. She wasn't in the room while Bella gave birth, but she was right outside the door incase either of us needed her. She was happy for the moment to be just the two of us, the Doctors and Nurses helping to bring Ace into the room, and for us to be the first people he met.

After Ace was washed off with a damp wash cloth and wrapped in his blanket, Sara came in to meet him. She was just as smitten as we were.

Bella did so well, she never once complained about the pain, she just took it like a boss and squeezed my hand with all of her might. Having delivered Ace into the world with no pain relief. I'll be honest, I'll never understand how women do it. They carry a child for nine months  then they give birth and bring them into the world. One thing I know for sure is that the female body is strong and Bella is one of the strongest women I know.

"Is he still asleep?" Bella questions, as she makes her way out of her personal bathroom, now dressed once more and looking refreshed.

"He's out like a light," I nod.

She makes her way over and wraps her arm around me, peering over my shoulder, looking down at our son. "He's perfect isn't he?"

"He is beyond perfect," I reply, as I gently touch his tiny hand with my pointer finger. He moves his tiny hand and wraps it around my finger loosely.

"Awww," she gushes. "Look at him. Daddy's boy already," she smiles up at me.

I turn my body toward her and wrap my arms around her. "You did so good baby, I'm so proud of you."

"Every second of pain was worth it. We've started our family."

"Started?" I raise a brow.

"Well we're not complete yet. But we've made a start."

"Are you saying you'd go through all of that again?" I ask baffled.

"Of course I will, we both want a big family."

"Mmm, say that again in a couple nights time," the nurse grins, as she makes her way into the room with our files. "Both of you have a clean bill of health, you're able to leave when you're ready. However, you can have the room for the night if you wish."

"No, I think I'd like to go home," Bella answers with a smile. "I want to be at home in my own space and have people visit."

"I think that's always a good idea. But you know, if anything happens you can always come back."

"Of course," Bella nods.

"I'll get the doctor to come in and talk to you about things to look out for. Then we can sign off on your discharge papers."

"Thank you doctor."

...

It took a couple of hours to get the discharge paperwork filled out, but finally I got Bella and Ace home. Because Ace is so small he'll be in a small crib, similar to what he had at the hospital, for the first few weeks. I like the idea of it being small, so we can move him around the house with us as well. I know that's what baby monitors are for, but I feel better being able to see him and having him close.

"Did Alyssa and Mal say what time they'd be over?" Bella asks, as she makes her way into the living room and sits down on the couch.

"They wanted to give us some time to settle in, so they'll be here close to dinner time and they're bringing dinner."

"Oh, that's so nice of them," Bella smiles.

Suddenly soft cries begin to fill the room and I look over at Ace, who is now moving slightly in his cot as he cries. I stand up and pick him up, supporting his neck like the nurses showed us at the hospital and rock him gently.

"Whats the matter?" I ask him softly, as I sit back down on the couch next to Bella, who strokes the top of his head gently.

He continues to cry softly and I look at Bella, feeling helpless already.

"He's probably hungry. Here let me see," she holds her arms out.

Gently I place him down into her arms and she brings him close to her body. "Are you hungry little man?" She speaks to him softly and sweetly, as she adjusts her top and bra so she can feed him. The second she moves him toward her breast, he latches on and begins to feed.

"Momma knows best," I lean over and kiss her temple.

"We'll learn what all his cries mean and we'll be fine," she smiles over at me.

"By the time we make it to baby number ten we'll be pros," I wink.

"Ten?" She gasps with a soft giggle. "I love you Jex, but I think we might have to stop well before ten."

"You're not fun," I pout playfully and stand to my feet. "Do you need anything?"

"No thank you, I'm fine."

"I'm going to have a quick shower before our quests arrive."

"Okay baby," I smile up at him.

I know it sounds crazy but Bella and I are even closer now that Ace has been born. I love her more than ever. Everything she put her body through to bring our son into the world, how brave she is, how strong she is, how she just gets on with things and doesn't complain. Not to mention she's already a perfect mother and she's only been a mother for the last five hours.

...

After my shower I head back down the hall and find Bella rocking Ace in her arms. She's singing to him softly, her voice peaceful and flawless.

"Is he alseep?" I whisper, as I make my way over.

"Out like a light," she nods.

I lean down and take him from her, placing him back in his crib. I then sit down on the couch and pull her into my arms, kissing the top of her head.

"How was your shower?"

"Good, I feel like I'm awake now," I laugh softly. "Are your parents still coming?"

"Mom messaged me. Dad isn't coming, but she and Abel are going to come and meet him. As well as Marni, Millie and the crew."

"And you're okay with your dad not coming?"

"If he doesn't want to be a part of his grandson's life it's his loss," she shakes her head with knitted brows. "Our son is perfect. He's innocent and he has nothing to do with anything. It just makes me incredibly sad that he won't grow up with a grandfather. It pains me that one day we'll have to explain all of that to him."

"I know baby," I sigh. "I'm sad he won't have a grandfather either. But we have to be thankful that he has his grandmother. He has his uncle, he has Marni, Millie, Alyssa and Malcolm as his god parents. Our son has a lot of love around him and that's all that matters."

Letting out a deep breath she nods. "You always know what to say."

"When you grow up with the father I had, you have to try and stay positive," I place my hand on her cheek and stroke it gently. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm a little tired, but I feel good."

"Good," I lean down and press my lips to hers. Instantly she moves her body closer to mine and deepens the kiss.

Knock, knock. A very soft knock at the door breaks us from our kiss.

"We'll continue this later," I mumble against her lips.

"Yeah, in six weeks time. You heard the doctor," she giggles softly.

"The doctor said sex. He didn't say anything about you using your mouth baby girl," he winks.

"Jex," she swats my arm with a giggle.

I make my way over to the door and open it, revealing Marni, Millie and Riv, who are standing there with presents in their arms. Bella will be cross. She purposefully didn't have a baby shower, because she thinks it's a way of asking people to buy gifts.

"The evil twins have arrived," I grin, our long running joke still standing.

"How are you going Daddy Jex?" Marni smiles and gives me a hug.

"Good, he pretty much just sleeps and sleeps," I shrug.

"Hey man, congratulations," Riv shakes my hand.

"Hey loser," Millie gives me a hug, which I return.

As I welcome them in, I also see Sara pull up in the driveway. Both her and Abel stepping out of the car; so I wait, holding the door open.

"Hi honey," Sara smiles brightly, as she makes her way up the steps, shopping bags in her hands. "How are they?"

"They're both doing really well. Ace is still asleep."

"I got you some things from the store, just incase," she kisses my cheek on her way in.

"Congratulations man," Abel makes his way up the stairs and shakes my hand with his free hand, a gift in the other.

"Man your sister is going to flip, she didn't want gifts."

"Well it's not for her. It's for my nephew, so bad luck," he chuckles, as he makes his way inside.

By the time I reach the living room again, everyone is standing around Ace's crib, gushing over how cute he is.

"He looks so much like you," Marni comments, as I sit down on the couch next to Bella and wrap my arm around her.

"He has my hair color and nose, that's for sure. Let's just hope he gets his mother's kind soul and personailty. Not my hot headed temper," I laugh.

"I don't know man. Bella has quite the temper on her when she wants to," Abel smirks.

"Because you're a jerk and push my bottons," Bella fires back.

"See," he grins.

"Well little Ace, in just a few more months you'll have a little baby friend to play with," Marni talks to him softly.

"I can't wait," Bella smiles over at her. "You're falling behind Mills," she jokes with Amelia.

"Yeah, yeah," she rolls her eyes. "Sorry that it took me a little longer to find the person I was meant to be with."

"Well you've found him now, what's the hold up?" Marni nudges her with a grin.

"Stop," she giggles, getting embarrassed.

Buzz, buzz. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out, reading a text message from Malcolm. "Out the front man, didn't want to wake the baby."

I stand to my feet and make my way over to the door, opening it. Alyssa makes her way in carrying a few pizza boxes and Malcolm follows closly behind.

"We hear it's a full house," he smiles.

"He's popular already, that's for sure," I nod.

Alyssa makes her way into the living room quickly and gives Bella a big hug. "You look amazing."

"Aw thank you," Bella smiles.

"We got you all pizza, so I hope you're hungry," she says, as she makes her way around, saying hello to everyone. She proceeds to give them all a hug, being her usual happy self.

...

The rest of the night goes on much the same, everyone gushing over Ace. Shortly after we had our dinner Ace woke and Bella took him to another room to feed. She then carried him back into the room, for everyone to have a chance to hold him.

While everyone was holding him and talking to him, he was wide awake. So for a little while there I was worried he'd be awake all night, but soon after everyone left he went back down to sleep and hasn't woken since.

Now being 11 pm. I crawl into bed next to Bella, who is resting, her eyes closed but she's not asleep. I wrap my arms around her and pull her close to my body.

"I keep waiting for him to wake," she whispers softly.

"He might wake soon. Let's just get some sleep while we can," I whisper back and kiss her head, stroking her hair gently.

She sighs contently and snuggles into my arms, her body relaxing against mine. "I love you," she says softly.

"I love you."

...

Kings HQ:

"The baby has been born."

"Good. Now we can make our move."

"I don't understand why we didn't just do it while she was pregnant."

"We don't bring children into things. Fetus or not it's still a child."

"So we don't get them involved, but we'll kill their parents?"

"We do what we have to do. Maybe Isabella Ricci's father will learn to keep his nose out of our business, and Jex Shelby will learn the same."

This chapter has been proof read and edited by ElleRWrites